Ketones constantly, why?

[crispychicken12]

Hi,

I'm 22 weeks pregnant. I tested high for ketones at my 15 week check, since then I've been keeping an eye on them regularly.

For two weeks I've had a moderate amount on a daily basis.

I eat plenty, I'm a student nurse so I work on various placements and I always make sure I have time to eat. I constantly drink water too, I crave ice water so I'm always hydrated

Can anyone shed some light on why this might be happening?

I'm high risk for GD due to DM and DSis being type 1 diabetic, my GD test isn't until June

Any help is greatly appreciated xx

Hi Op, firstly I’d ask them to bring forward your GTT or give you a blood sugar monitor.

The main causes I know of ketones are dehydration and not eating enough carbs. What sort of food do you eat? The fact you say you’re constantly thirsty yet drink a lot and crave ice makes me wonder about GDM.

I'm 23 weeks tomorrow and my GD test is early May, definitely ask them to bring it forward, especially as you're at high risk.

Typical daily food intake:

Breakfast :
X1 slice of white bread toast
Banana

Snack:
Baby plum tomatoes
Cracker bread with butter

Lunch:
Tuna pasta and salad or beans on toast
Yoghurt

Tea:
Anything from lasagne to chicken curry, I always have a hearty tea

Snack:
I normally snack on a biscuit or a bit of chocolate

I would say you need to eat just a bit more. Your diet is fine for you, but you need another 200-300 calories a day for baby.

I'm type 1 diabetic - there's ketosis caused by a lack of carbs and ketoacidosis which is caused by high blood sugars and it is very dangerous. You say you're a student nurse - is there any way you can check your blood sugars OP? X

My blood sugar was 5.7 today, so normal. However, I have a large amount of ketones. It was the darkest colour on the bottle.

I ate more carbs and drank more water too

When did you test your blood sugar to get that reading? Was it first thing in the morning or after food?

Have you had your liver levels checked? I had dark urine and had obstetric cholestasis

What colour is your pee? I had consistently high ketones when I was pregnant (and also had GD but it was well controlled by diet) and I was told that the dark, concentrated colour of my pee meant I was dehydrated. I drank so much water that I couldn't believe that I was still showing ketones but I can only assume that I was using a lot of it up with the pregnancy.

If you are high risk for GD, I would suggest (if you can) to take bloods throughout the day (fasting and after meals) to check levels.

For example, when I was testing, my morning fasting level couldn't be above 5.5 (though it varies from health board to health board) so 5.7 would have been above the 'allowed' level.

@Teakind after food, checked again 2hrs after food and was 4.9 but large amount of ketones remain

Will check again first thing, feeling quite rubbish. Just generally sick and worried

Please speak to your midwife. They will help you get an actual diagnosis and form a treatment plan / refer you to services that can help if it is GD. Forums are great for advice, but I'm concerned the guidance to self-disgnosis is causing you more stress / worry.

I contacted my midwife, she said she can't see me because as I'm not throwing up and my blood sugars are okay she says it's a medical issue and to contact my GP. couldn't get an appointment today, feel like I'm being passed from pillar to post